Patrick Howley

Republican Virginia gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli and a leading pro-life organization accused Democratic contender Terry McAuliffe of lying for the Democrats’ new robocall, which claims pro-life Cuccinelli flip-flopped on abortion.

The Virginia Democratic Party accused Cuccinelli of not “being pro-life anymore” in a new robocall delivered to the telephones of pro-life Virginia voters.

“Up until last year, Cuccinelli said he wanted to ban abortion. But now that he’s running for office, he’s trying to rewrite history. Cuccinelli claims he’s not focused on being pro-life anymore,” according to “Michelle,” the voice in the robocall.

The Democrats accused Cuccinelli of reversing his pro-life stance because he said at a forum last week that he would not fight Medicaid funding for abortions.

Cuccinelli called the ad a “lie.”

“Let me be clear: My comments last week were about Medicaid funding for abortions, in which I acknowledged I would abide by current federal law that requires such funding for cases of rape, incest and to protect the life of the mother. Right now, this is the law, and is only relevant to the annual question of Medicaid funding,” Cuccinelli said in a statement, noting that his strong pro-life stance has not wavered.

“When something is the law, as in the case with Medicaid funding for abortions, it would be my job as Governor to defend that law regardless of my personal feelings on the subject. That’s something I have done time and again as Attorney General,” Cuccinelli said.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Washington-based pro-life organization the Susan B. Anthony List, called McAuliffe a “duplicitous candidate.”

“McAuliffe cannot go on television and radio claiming that Ken Cuccinelli is an extreme pro-life candidate at the same time he sends out robocalls claiming that Cuccinelli is not pro-life,” Dannenfelser said.